The Eisack (german: Eisack, ; it, Isarco ;

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

: ''Isarus'' or ''Isarcus'') is a

river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of ...

in Northern

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, the second largest river in

South Tyrol it, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige lld, Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan/Bulsan – Südtirol , settlement_type = Autonomous province , image_skyline = , image_alt ...

. Its source is near the

Brenner Pass The Brenner Pass (german: link=no, Brennerpass , shortly ; it, Passo del Brennero ) is a mountain pass through the Alps which forms the border between Italy and Austria. It is one of the principal passes of the Eastern Alpine range and has ...

, at an altitude of about 1990 m above

sea level Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardis ...

. The river draws water from an area of about 4,200 km². After about 96 km, it joins the Adige river south of

Bolzano Bolzano ( or ; german: Bozen, (formerly ); bar, Bozn; lld, Balsan or ) is the capital city of the province of South Tyrol in northern Italy. With a population of 108,245, Bolzano is also by far the largest city in South Tyrol and the third ...

. At first the river flows through the Wipptal and after the village of

Vahrn Vahrn (; it, Varna ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about northeast of the city of Bolzano. Geography Vahrn borders the following municipalities: Brixen, Klausen, Franzensfeste, Natz-Schabs, Sarn ...

through the

Eisacktal Eisack Valley ( it, Valle Isarco ; german: Eisacktal) is a district ( it, comprensorio; german: Bezirksgemeinschaft) in South Tyrol, Italy. It comprises the middle part of the valley of the Eisack, from Franzensfeste in the north to Waidbruck in t ...

. Its source is sung of in the '' Bozner Bergsteigerlied'' as the northern frontier of the South Tyrolean homeland. BZ Hörtmair 1541

The major towns and villages along the course of the river are Sterzing,

Franzensfeste Franzensfeste (; it, Fortezza ) is a ''comune'' in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is named after the large Franzensfeste Fortress erected from 1833 to 1838 and Franzensfeste station is also known as an important railway hub. Geography Fra ...

Brixen Brixen (, ; it, Bressanone ; lld, Porsenù or ) is a town in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about north of Bolzano. Geography First mentioned in 901, Brixen is the third largest city and oldest town in the province, and the artistic an ...

, Klausen, Waidbruck and finally the capital city of the province. In

it merges with the Rienz. Several smaller creeks are tributaries, including the

Ridnauner Bach The Ridnauner Bach or Mareiter Bach is a stream in South Tyrol, Italy. It flows into the Eisack in Sterzing Sterzing (; it, Vipiteno ) is a comune in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is the main town of the southern Wipptal, and the Eisack ...

, the

Pflerscher Bach The Pflerscher Bach is a stream in South Tyrol, Italy. It flows into the Eisack The Eisack (german: Eisack, ; it, Isarco ; Latin: ''Isarus'' or ''Isarcus'') is a river in Northern Italy, the second largest river in South Tyrol. Its source is ne ...

, the Pfitscher Bach, the

Villnößer Bach The Villnößer Bach ( it, Rio Funes) is a stream located in South Tyrol, Italy. It rises from the Geislerspitze mountain range, flows through the Villnößtal, ending after about to the left downstream of Feldthurns in the Eisack river. Main t ...

, the

Derjon The Derjon ( lld, Derjon; it, Rio Gardena; german: Grödner Bach) is a stream in South Tyrol, Italy. ReferencesCivic Network of South Tyrol Rivers of South Tyrol Rivers of Italy {{Italy-river-stub ...

, the

Braibach The Braibach or Tierser Bach (also Breibach, Breienbach, Braienbach) is a stream in South Tyrol it, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige lld, Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan/Bulsan – Südtirol , settlement_type ...

(also known as Tierser Bach), the

Eggentaler Bach The Eggentaler Bach is a stream in South Tyrol, Italy. It flows into the Eisack The Eisack (german: Eisack, ; it, Isarco ; Latin: ''Isarus'' or ''Isarcus'') is a river in Northern Italy, the second largest river in South Tyrol. Its source is ne ...

and the Talfer flowing from

Sarntal Sarntal (; it, Sarentino ) is a valley and a '' comune'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about north of the city of Bolzano. The municipality comprises several towns and villages. The largest one, seat of the mayor and ...

. The Eisack is used extensively for the production of electricity; it is dammed near

, Klausen and Waidbruck.

External links

Eisack Water quality report
Rivers of South Tyrol Rivers of Italy {{Italy-river-stub